Reviews of music and some things that I like and don't like

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Monthly Archives: August 2018

Max is a professional singer originally from Cardiff, South Wales. He now lives and creates in Nashville, TN. His music is a unique blend of alternative, indie rock, blues, and American roots.

With emotive vocals that will grab your ears as well as your heartstrings, especially on the amazing track “When It’s Real,” you will be drawn into the web that he has spun on this five song E.P. What a web it is too, full of great playing, those incredible vocals and the lyrics that are not your typical driving around and noticing America, they actually stand up on their own and will get your attention. The highlight of this five song collection isn’t a track, it’s the whole thing, and the songs are great from the first until the last note on the end of the final song. I usually don’t get into this kind of stuff, sometimes a little too country and I hate country, but this really struck me and I was fascinated all the way through.

If you want something a little different, something that would sound great in a café, a BBQ, or just in the car driving around, this is one to grab. I hope that he puts out music of this quality for a long time, I can’t get enough.

Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Healing Spells is the solo vehicle of electronica music producer Past Lives. This is his second E.P., and only three months later than his debut, and contains 4 songs of ambient music.

Chock full of trippy and environmental sounds; this is a great little taste that will satisfy your hunger for well done and intriguing music. The album feels like going on a journey into the stratosphere and floating around all blissful and then touching down and having the greatest rest possible. The journey takes you to places that you never thought existed and into new realms that you will want to revisit time and time again. All of the tracks are magical and one stands out now, then the next time you listen to it, another one grabs your attention.

If you are a fan of the golden days of ambient house, think The Orb and you will have a general idea of not just the sound, but of the quality of this E.P. Take a journey and find a new place to hide from the world when you put this one on.

Blitz was a street punk/Oi! band from New Mills, Derbyshire, England, formed in 1980 producing albums until 1983. The band signed to No Future in 1981, and their first release was the 7″ EP All Out Attack. Their debut album Voice of a Generation received a five-star review from Bushell in Sounds. The original Blitz lineup consisted of Carl Fisher (vocals), Charlie Howe (percussion), Nidge Miller (guitar), and Neil “Mackie” McLennan (bass). After Fisher and McLennan had a disagreement, Fisher and Howe formed their own band. In 1983 they produced Second Empire Justice on the No Future label with Tim Harris (guitar, keyboards), crediting Mackie. Because of its departure into post-punk and new wave characteristics it did not do well with the original Oi! audience. The album was commercially unsuccessful at the time, the No Future label sank, because Blitz was their main income and with it the Fisher and Howe arrangement. According to Miller, the band split up, because the original members had no interest in “touring, plus they were never really into the music.” It was Miller alone who produced the 1989 album The Killing Dream playing all instruments (guitars, bass, drums) with Gary Bassnett on vocals. This 90 track, 5 disc clam shell box set features everything released by Punk legends Blitz. The 20 page booklet comes complete with detailed liner notes, pictures of all relevant record sleeves and memorabilia and clippings from the era.

I remember hearing the classic “Someone’s Gonna Die” and couldn’t believe hav much I loved it and how thick it sounded, like a jet-liner taking off in my face, I knew that I needed more from this band. Disc 1 is the seminal Voice Of A Generation album which hit No.27 in the UK National Charts as well as topping the Independent Chart. This album is fantastic with songs like “4.Q.,” which lept me coming back to it year after year, and playing it for anyone who would listen. A great debut that retains the pure power and force that makes it stand out from the pack. Disc 2 is a 29 track collection of non LP singles, B-sides and compilation cuts that was mostly the way a lot of people, myself included heard Blitz mostly. Back then, compilation albums were a great way to hear bands new songs, rare songs and get people to pick up their own releases. This CD is chock full of fantastic songs and will be stuck in your player for hours. Disc 3 is a rare In Concert live recording from 1982. This is an amazing in your face concert showcasing the band playing their hearts out to an appreciative crowd. CD 4 is the No.5 Indie Chart album Second Empire Justice which now features the “Telecommunication” and “Solar” singles as a bonus. This is the album that the older fans just shook thier heads at, “where was the punk, the fire?” The band took a lot of stick for coming across more like Joy Division than the old punk band that they were, but they still had great songs and the album sounds good in the light of years passing. Lots of hooks, and the lyrics were still on point, just let yourself relax and enjoy it. The fifth and final disc is the band’s album from 1990 The Killing Dream, now restored to its original track listing and running order. With a drum machine and still sounding like a post-punk album, it has some good moments, but isn’t the punk powerhouse that people might have been expecting. It still has enough interesting things going for it that I enjoyed it more now than I did back when it came out.

Having this great band collected is such a treat and will keep you happy for hours and hours, just keep an open mind. his is the definitve collection of a vital band that more people need to hear.

Charged GBH, commonly known as GBH, is an English street punk band which was formed in 1978. 1982 saw the release of GBH’s first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats which reached number 17 in the UK charts as well as Number 2 in the respected UK Indie charts where the bands singles had also taken up residence, leading to a memorable appearance on legendary UK TV programme The Tube doing “Give Me Fire” (UK Indie chart no 2). This 64 track 4 CD clamshell box set captures the most successful and influential years of the band and has an amazing booklet as well.

I first was aware of G.B.H. back in 1983 and first got an album of theirs in 1985, the classic City Baby Attacked By Rats. I put it on the turntable and was hooked right away with the power and intensity of the album. After all these years, the album still has that effect on me. The raw force of the band comes at you like a freight train and never lets up, a change from the more ’77 punk that I was listening to at the time. I then got City Baby’s Revenge and was happy to hear that they had lost none of the power that I loved from the first album, they had actually become tighter and stronger players. I later got Leather, Bristles, Studs, And Acne and loved the pure fire of the early songs. Disc 1 contains the band’s first release, the Leather, Bristles, Studs And Acne 12” which reached the Indie Chart Top Ten in 1981 and now comes with the addition of the “Sick Boy” and “No Survivors” singles. This is a great jumping off point to hear just how intense the band was at the time and how they still can make your hair stand on end after all these years. CD 2 is debut LP City Baby Attacked By Rats, which now comes with the addition of the UK National hit single “Give Me Fire.” This is one of the best albums I have ever heard and fills me with energy and thrills me to this very day. Continuing on with the speed and devastation of their first album, CD 3 is City Babies Revenge, the band’s second studio album, and an Independent Chart Top Ten smash, and it now comes with the bonus of the “Catch 23” and “Do What You Do” singles. The final disc is a 14 track live in concert from 1983 that gives the listener a taste of what this incredible band was like on a hot night.

The band is still going to this day and will continue to blow the punters away with their in your face performance. This is a dream come true, the best of the best and sounding great after all these years.